String of injuries to the outfield backing Padres into a corner

Padres outfielder Scott Hairston was unable to make a diving catch on Miguel Montero's RBI triple Aug. 27, and ended up with a torn ligament in his left thumb that ended his season.
— K.C. Alfred / K.C. Alfred/Union-Tribune

Padres outfielder Scott Hairston was unable to make a diving catch on Miguel Montero's RBI triple Aug. 27, and ended up with a torn ligament in his left thumb that ended his season.
— K.C. Alfred / K.C. Alfred/Union-Tribune

Despite the promotions of Will Venable and Chip Ambres from Triple-A Portland over the past 16 days, the Padres suddenly find themselves short of outfielders.

Ambres Saturday became questionable for the rest of the season because of a strained knee suffered in Friday night's game and Jody Gerut continues to show no improvement to the swollen joint in the strain in his left middle finger.

The Padres have been operating without Scott Hairston since he suffered a bone chip and detached ligament in his left thumb on Aug. 27. Hairston has since had surgery.

“I'm in such good shape after the surgery that the injury won't even interfere with my winter program,” Hairston said.

Padres manager Bud Black Saturday said the Padres might have to consider adding another outfielder to finish the season, although Edgar Gonzalez could play one of the corners in a pinch.

One problem facing the Padres is that all the outfielders on the 40-man roster are either injured or with the major league team. The Padres do have one opening on the 40-man roster if they did need to add an outfielder.

Ambres was unavailable Saturday and could have an MRI on his left knee.

“We're a little concerned,” Black said. “Chip was pretty sore today. He tried to do a couple of things and couldn't.”

Ambres injured his knee stretching for the first-base bag while successfully running out an infield grounder Friday night. He stayed in the game and immediately stole second – his first steal of the season.

“But the knee tightened up during the game,” Ambres said. “It started to feel better after I came out and got treatment, which was encouraging.”

Headley gets a breather

Even though the Padres were down to four outfielders, Black decided to give rookie left fielder Chase Headley a game off Saturday night and started Drew Macias in left.

Headley had appeared in every Padres game (77) since he was promoted from Triple-A Portland on June 17. He has made 69 starts in left and six at third with two pinch-hit appearances.

Headley has struggled of late.

He has struck out at least once in each of his past 11 games (18 in a span of 43 at-bats) and is hitting .231 (12-for-52) with two doubles, a homer and four RBI in 15 games since Aug. 29.

Headley welcomed the night off.

“Bud told me 'I think you could use a breather,' ” said Headley, “and I told him 'you're right.' ”

“The last week has been tough.”

Looking to Japan?

The Padres are among the major league clubs scouting Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa, a 22-year-old who, according to the Padres, is clocking at 93-94 mph.

“Tazawa is a projected first-round draft in the Nippon Profession Baseball league and his ability warrants that projection,” said Randy Smith, the Padres' director of international scouting.